WASHINGTON – The Obama administration will introduce its first statement calling for the United Nations’ top human rights body to combat discrimination against gays and lesbians around the world, completing a U.S. reversal from years of ambiguity on the subject during the presidency of George W. Bush.

The U.S. declaration will be made today at the Geneva-based Human Rights Council and has the support of more than 80 countries.

Although it is not in the form of a binding resolution, the American push for U.N. action has helped win over a handful of new countries to the cause. A resolution could be brought to a vote later this year.

The issue of gay rights has polarized nations at the U.N. for years. And despite growing acceptance of homosexuality in Western nations and parts of Latin America, lawyers say there is still a gap in human rights treaties for the protection of gays against discrimination and mistreatment.

“We are very concerned that individuals continue to be killed, arrested and harassed around the world because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Suzanne Nossel, deputy assistant secretary of state for international organizations. “This statement sends a strong message from across the globe that such abuses should not be tolerated.”

The U.S. document calls for nations to end any criminal punishments against lesbians, gays and bisexuals, and asks the global body to review how governments treat them in the U.N.’s human rights assessments.

U.N. General Assembly and Human Rights Council resolutions aren’t legally binding; they reflect only the view of the majority of the world’s nations.

But gay rights advocates say it is important to gather backers for statements, resolutions and other documents such as the one that will be presented today by the U.S., even when their legal effect is null.

Supporting the statement today will be newcomers such as Thailand, Rwanda, El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.